Random attention-needy eight-year-old on the Metro, to me: "I saw Ben Stiller today!"
Me: "Really? Where'd you see him?"
8-year-old: "At the big tall pointy thing."
By this, I deduced eventually, he meant the Washington Monument. I weep for the future.
My internship doesn't officially start until tomorrow, so I've met up with some of my fellow interns (really, really cool people) and we've been trekking all over DC sightseeing. Yesterday we saw the National Archives, with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and what have you. Today was absolutely incredible - we went to Arlington National Cemetery, saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, then walked across the Potomac, saw the Lincoln Memorial (including the spot where MLK stood during his "I have a dream" speech), and the White House. Eventually, we made our way to the office building where we're going to work tomorrow, then met up with some friends of ours who actually started work today and went out to eat. A great time, but my legs will feel like jelly tomorrow.
One thing I didn't realize - whenever you see pictures of the White House and the Supreme Court and the Capitol Building, they're basically by themselves, framed by blue skies and green lawns. It's weird to see them up close, because they're surrounded by buildings. You couldn't see the White House from two blocks away - there are too many townhouses. don't know what I expected - to see them up on pedestals above the city? But it's still weird.
I am feeling pretty nervous, but pretty excited about starting tomorrow. I guess we'll see how it goes. I have the feeling that I am about to find out just how little I know.
This was embarassing: All the interns I've met so far are 21 or older. Last night, we went to Georgetown to try to find a bar where we could chill. They specifically said they wanted to find a place where I could go, and we headed to one that looked promising. They all ordered their beers, and then I asked the bartender if he had any soda. He said he did, and asked for my ID. No, you don't understand - nonalcoholic soda, I repeated. Sure, he said, but you have to be 21 to be in here. Oh. I'll leave then, I said.
So we all went outside to a bunch of tables they had in an area railed off from the sidewalk and sat down, them with their drinks, and me without. A few minutes later, a guy comes out: "Hey, I hear you guys aren't 21." "Well, I'm not," I say. "You can't be here," he said. (Here being outside the bar, at the tables.) "Is there any way he can just sit with us while we finish our drinks?" says my fellow intern named Ted. "Drink fast?" says the guy.
Our table was by the railing. So I ended up leaving the seating area, and standing outside the railing so I could talk to them while they drank. Yeah - felt just a little stupid. And they felt bad too. Just a bad deal, all-around.
Stupid USA, with its draconian drinking age.
OK - pictures.
At the National Archives. (The lighting in here was purposefully low to protect the documents, and no flash photography was allowed.)
The Magna Carta. For realz:
The Constitution:
The Declaration of Independence:
(Is that Nicholas Cage? Stop him!)
John Marshall's first draft of Marbury v. Madison, in which the Supreme Court decided it had the authority to overrule anything any branch of the US government anywhere might do. I gave it my best death glance, but I couldn't get it to disintegrate. Oh well.
The first draft of the 13th amendment:
Had to get this: the Canadian embassy.
The eternal flame at JFK's tomb in Arlington Cemetery. (It's there, trust me. Gas-powered?)
Robert E. Lee's house - before the Union Army confiscated it to start burying Union soldiers. Thus was Arlington Cemetery born.
The view from the Arlington House:
The Penatgon, viewed from Arlington Natl' Cemetery. My new friend Ted: "Imagine visiting here on 9/11 and seeing the plane hit." (Shudder).
"Here lies in eternal glory an American soldier, known but to God." The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There are unidentified remains from three soldiers killed in WWI, WWII and Korea here.
The "big pointy thing" viewed from the Lincoln Memorial.
Our nation's greatest president. (This picture does not give the memorial justice. Dude...)
The Albert Einstien memorial:
The White House. Sweet!
No sudden moves! (Snipers on the roof).
A round-the-clock antiwar vigil right across the road from the White House. (No, I didn't argue with them.)
The room directly across the courtyard from my dorm window:
Oh - it's ON!
National Presbyterian Church. Dad and I went here on Sunday - apparently, so does Condoleeza Rice. It's even more beautiful on the inside:
The First Amendment, writ large at the “Newseum”:
That's all for now. Good night!
2 comments:
You saw a huge chunk of our nation's history in just 2 days, jealous. Also, today at work we had the radio turned to WNAX (the station all the farmers listen to. Keeps them up on market prices and national economy/politics that affects agriculture). They had a bit of Chuck Grassley refuting Bush's accusation that ethanol is the reason for the spike in food prices. Most of the farmers in Sioux County view ethanol as a temporary solution, but I'm sure they're all thankful for Grassley's defense. Give Chuck a big thanks from all of Sioux County's farmers.
Will do!
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